Chapter 14

A Change of Game

My ship went down in a sea of sound…

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today." Tony started his speech, resting his hands on the podium; digging his nails into the wood. "Today, the University of New York, has an award for us; for me and my team. They asked me to give a speech, which I couldn't say not to. I will begin the speech, by telling you about my day."

When I woke up alone, I had everything…

Cameras flashed around Peter, but he managed to ignore the flashes and the noises they gave off. The envelope felt hot in his jacket pocket.

"I woke up, had breakfast, and got ready for my day. When I went to my bathroom, I saw myself in the mirror; my own face staring back, as it has every day of my life. If I looked into that mirror, and saw the face of Mister Scott Lang staring back at me; I could die as a proud man."

A handful of moments, I wished I could change…

There was a murmur in the crowd, and Peter could see the man Tony had mentioned off to the side, holding a little girl in his arms.

"Scott Lang was injured in the events of what happened here. Scott Lang was wounded, and while his two assistants recovered in hospital, as did many other guests from that night, that man left his hospital bed, to begin the planning of the rebuilding project that was announced just a few days ago. I approached Scott, offering money, offering resources to help him with his project and that man, turned me down while he laughed in my face."

Peter raised an eyebrow. He saw that Scott looked absolutely mortified; the little girl was chatting in his arms. Peter strained, to hear her above the crowd.

"Daddy! That you!" She said, her voice bright and bubbly.

My lungs gave out as I faced the crowd, I think that keeping this up could be dangerous…

"It is not often I am laughed at, certainly not when offering money but; Scott did not mean it in a way for me to find upsetting. This project, this huge rebuilding venture that Scott Lang has organised, this project is Mister Scott Lang. he did not my money because he did not want any hands there were not his on his project; he has taken the responsibility for this venture onto his own shoulders, while injured, while still recovering. So, as men with similar views to our projects; we talked. We discussed, and we planned and as of this week, Stark Industries has agreed to provide partial funding for the rebuilding project; I am a backer. I am not a main hand in this project. I will watch from the sidelines as a man who truly cares, takes care of the work. Scott Lang is a man that I would be incredibly proud to be, and so, I invite this man to the stage to accept the award I was offered; that is much better suited to him."

Tony held out a held towards Scott, who was ushered onto stage by a ceremony official. Tony shook one of Scott's hands, and held out a small frame; it held a certificate inside of it. There was also a small trophy, golden, in the shape of a globe. Cassie took both, smiling brightly at Tony. Peter could see that Scott was ready to cry, and quickly left the stage. Tony smiled over the crowd as cameras flashed, and his eyes settled on Peter.

Therapy, you were never a friend to me ,you can take back your misery…

Peter felt something push into his back, an elbow meeting the back of his ribs. He winced, and heard Flash snicker behind him. Tony watched, from the podium, expecting the wood to splinter as his nails dug in deeper, then he let go, and held his hands high above him.

"Peter!" He shouted, and watched as Peter's face turned to him; horrified. And very, very upset. Tony walked to the front of the stage, and hopped over it, landing on the ground in front of it. "There's my favourite intern!"

"Again, I'm your only intern." Peter said through gritted Teeth. Tony's eyes flickered as he saw Flash behind Peter; hiding behind the other teen. Peter could hear Flash muttering something, but did his best to ignore it.

Arrogant boy , 'Cause a scene like you're supposed to…

"The fact that I have never had an intern before, should say something." Tony said with a grin, and gestured for Peter to follow him. His car had pulled up to the side of the stage and it was time for him to leave. It's done. Tony thought as he walked to the car, and opened the door. Peter right behind him. Peter looked at the car, and at Tony; his entire body shook. He swayed for a moment, his head was spinning; he looked again at Tony, and his entire body screamed. Move him.

Peter moved, and took quick steps forward towards Tony; he grabbed the man by his jacket and pulled him backwards. Peter heard fabric rip as he pulled on the jacket.

"Kid!" Tony shouted, as Peter used the jacket to spin Tony around, so that Peter's back faced the car; he pushed Tony to the ground and crouched over the man as the car exploded.

Peter heard the crowd around him, scream, running; he stayed still, crouched over Tony, as shrapnel from the car flew around them. He could feel metal of metal and glass fly into his back, and fall away as his shirt, true to Loki's word, provided protection. Some shards missed his shirt, and cut his exposed neck and arms, some found the space between his jeans and shoes, cutting at his ankles. Peter hissed at the pain, but kept still, and waited until he heard sirens behind him, and organised shouts as emergency crews arrived. Someone nearby was shouting, and his body seemed to pick it up over the noise; a woman, shouting his name. The noise around him faded until it was shouts, and sirens; the shrapnel had stopped. Peter stood on shaking legs, and looked down at Tony, who had rolled over to look at Peter with wide eyes. Tony couldn't talk; his face had gone white, and there was blood pooling on the ground beneath him.

"Peter!" The ladie's voice came again, over the other noise.

"Ma'am! Wait, you can't go-"

Peter saw as his Aunt shoved aside a police officer and ran to the two, wrapping her arms around Peter. Two police officers, accompanied by a paramedic, made it to them as well.

"Mister Stark!" One of them shouted, Peter didn't know who he didn't care. He let May hold him, and eventually held her back wrapping his arms around her, and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. A hand found his shoulder, and he looked to see a paramedic, looking at him sheepishly; she was a woman May's age, Peter guessed.

"I know kid, but we gotta check you over. Won't take long." She said, and helped Aunt May to let go of her Nephew, who was now covered in splotches of blood.

The next hour was a rush of being taken to the hospital for proper checks; his worst cuts were cleaned and stitched, while the smaller ones were cleaned and checked over. His doctor had changed during the process, and Peter only took notice when he found he really preferred the second lady. She found him again, in the waiting room, after he had been cleared to be taken home by May.

"Hello again Peter." She said.

"Hey, is everything alright? I can still go home, right?" Peter asked, nervous. He hated hospitals – the smells were always so strong. She smiled gently at Peter's worry.

"Of course peter, traffic is a little crazy after the incident but your Aunt is on her way.

"Oh! Good, um, so what's the matter? I thought you'd be busy."

"Nurse asked me to get you, there's someone on the phone for you. I wasn't told the name, just that the call was private. I was given a number for you to call back, you're welcome to use an empty room to make the call." She said, handing him a sheet of paper and giving him a friendly farewell.

Peter asked the front desk staff where he could go to make the call, and was given the key to get into a Doctor's office; they weren't in today so the room wasn't being used. He gave them a thank you and ran off to the room, locking the door after he entered the room. He quickly dialled the number into his cell phone, and waited as it rang; it didn't ring for long.

"Peter!" Came a lady's voice; who was it?

"Umm, hello?"

"Oh, sorry, this is Miss Potts; Pepper." Oh, of course. Why was she calling him?"

"Uhh, sorry but why are you calling me? Don't you run a company?"

"Yes, the company of which the owner, founder and public was nearly blown up today. Not the greatest day, but I got a call from the people treating Tony, he wanted information on how you're doing, so I had to get it."

"Ooh…kay…I'm fine, I'm waiting for my Aunt to get me. I got cleared a little while ago, traffic is just really bad."

"Course it is, do you need anything? We can have it brought to your house."

"N-no, really, it's fine. Tell Mister Stark not to worry, he needs to you know, relax for once." Peter leant against the door shaking his head. "Did…was he badly hurt? I saw the blood."

"A piece of metal from the explosion found its way into his thigh but, other than that, he's alright; aside from the mental aspect of the whole ordeal. He'll be home by the morning, tonight if he whines enough."

"Okay…that's good. Oh sorry, I think my Aunt's here, someone's knocking on the door."

"Alright Peter, go home and rest. If you need anything, call this number." Pepper said, and Peter said goodbye before hanging up. He left the room and found himself in front of May; who looked as pale as Tony had. She didn't say anything as she lead him to the car, and got him home. Peter was exhausted; ready to pass out in his own, but he didn't make it that far. He made it to the couch before collapsing into it, laughing to himself as May busied herself in the kitchen. He looked around, and saw something on their tiny balcony; a little pot plant.

"Did you already go get a plant May? That was quick." Peter said with a grin as May sat on the end of the couch, at his feet. May smiled and set a cup of tea in front of Peter, as well as one for herself. She looked at the plant, and smiled ever more.

"Oh! I had forgotten with…everything, no, Mister Stark dropped by during the day while you were at work." Peter coughed on his tea, and looked at May.

"What? Why?"

"To drop off the plant, he said it was his way of saying congratulations."

"Oh noo, May I'm sorry; I didn't think he'd…give you anything. Although I should have suspected it." May laughed at Peter, and smiled as she sipped her tea. The two fell into comfortable silence, and Peter fell asleep while they watched a movie; the lights were off, and they had microwaved popcorn. May got up from the couch and after gently placing a blanket over her Nephew, she went to bed; the door left open a crack, in case Peter woke up.

Peter didn't wake during the night; it wasn't until the next morning when he heard May answer the door that his eyes finally opened. Peter could hear her talking to whoever had knocked at the door, but he didn't make any move to get off the couch; it was far too comfortable. He heard the door close, and and heard May moving something in the kitchen. He groaned and got off the couch, and half-asleep, made his way to May; what Peter saw on the kitchen counter, was not at all what he expected to see after waking up.

There was a huge, obviously expensive flower assortment in a vase on the countertop; it was piled thick with different flowers and grasses, that tried to spill out of the vase. Peter knew maybe four of the flowers in the arrangement, but the rest of the names were lost on him.

"Uhhhh….May…" Peter said and gestured with open hands at the flowers, eyebrow raised.

"Oh Peter! I didn't mean to wake you dear."

"I was half awake already, why is there a small rainforest in our kitchen?" Peter had walked over to the flowers, and was busy looking at the arrangement; the smell was unbearable but, the flowers were gorgeous. He figured he could deal with the smell if May liked them. He saw a card stuck amongst them, and pulled it out.

"To May, thanks for being a great Aunt. Sorry for nearly getting the kid blown up. Love, Tony." Peter read out, and laughed at May who was shaking her head.

"Peter! Why am I getting flowers?!" She asked, her hands on her hips, simply unable to understand what was happening. Peter laughed again, when there was another knock at the door, and waved May back to her cup of tea that Peter saw on the table.

"I got it!" He called out, as he ran to the front door, still laughing. He twisted the doorknob, and opened the door to see a man in a nice suit, holding a package.

"Mister Parker?" The man asked, and Peter could hear how much the man didn't want to be there.

"That's me!" Peter said, grinning.

"Good. A package for you, sir." The man said, pushing the package into Peter's hands and walking away.

"Thanks!" Peter called out after him, and shut the door. It wasn't a large box, but it was neatly wrapped in red paper, with a gold bow on top. Peter chuckled to himself and went back to May who was busy making breakfast.

"Wow, I wonder who it's, go on; three guesses." He said to May, who swatted him with the spatula she was holding, grinning at her nephew. Peter sat down at the kitchen table and slowly, making sure not to tear the paper, open the package. He held a card out to May, who took and began to read. Peter pulled a frame out of the box, and looked at the certificate that sat inside it. It was solid white, with gold and black text.

This certificate has been commissioned, in order to be presented to Mister Peter Parker.

For showing great bravery, in saving the life of Mister Tony Stark.

From everyone at Stark Industries; thank you.

Peter ran his fingers of the frame and realised he was crying; May noticed too, when she handed the card to Peter, tears in her own eyes.

"Peter, it's probably you read it. It…it said it's personal." She said, and gave her nephew a hug around his shoulders. They quickly ate breakfast, and Peter went to his room to read the card. He climbed into his bed, and saw the envelope Steve had given him, on his nightstand. Peter sat on his bed and leant against the wall, card first, then envelope. Good then the possibly very bad. He opened the card, and smiled at the neat handwriting that filled it. Maybe Pepper's?

Peter,

The certificate was from the company; Tony would have come in person but I scolded him for the idea, and scolded him again when I caught him trying to arrange to visit you without asking anyone. Despite his own injuries, despite the fact someone very obviously tried to kill him; Tony has spent the past day worrying about who he calls, his favourite intern.

He laughed at the certificate; quite bitterly. He said it was an insult to what you did. I happen to agree. He arranged the flowers for your Aunt, he was quite concerned about making sure she got something. The doctor who treated you is a friend of Tony's; anything that she saw, or suspected, will not make it to the world outside her own head. She is a good friend, of the entire team, and I took it upon myself to make sure she was the one to treat you, at least more the most part.

Tony is home at the tower, and has been asking for you to visit. I suspect he is lonely, despite living with five other people who aren't teenagers. You are an incredibly brave teenager, and while there are a handful of people now who would take a bomb for Tony Stark without hesitation; it was not always like that. We thank the gods, who Tony seems to know in person now, that you were one of those people when you were close enough to help.

Tony asked me to say that his invitation still stands; I imagine you know what it means.

Recover quickly, and stay safe;

Pepper Potts.

Peter wiped the tears away from his eyes, and grabbed the envelope from his night stand; and tore it open. He could face anything now; he thought for sure. He opened the envelope, and found a simple, white card inside. He opened the card, and a piece of paper fell out. It had been folded into quarters. Peter read the writing inside the card, and fiddled with the folded paper as he did.

Hi Peter,

Bucky asked me to do this, he said it would be easier than trying to corner you for a conversation; I agreed. He wanted to say thank you, for the arm; he hasn't been able to yet. T'Challa told him that you asked for it, as your thank you; Bucky still has issues accepting that but it'll pass. He also suggested I add the drawing to the card, I was working on it while we were on our trip.

Actually, I was working on quite a few but this was his favourite (I am unsure why). Hope to see you around the Tower soon.

Steve 'Apple Pie' Rogers

Peter laughed at the letter. Steve had obviously signed his name correctly, and had not seen that someone had added the additional names to it. He set the envelope and card next to him with the other card, and unfolded the drawing. It was a very well done drawing; it must have taken some time. It was of Peter; out of his suit, standing on top of a tower at the palace in Wakanda. He was waving, and the front of the picture was Steve and Bucky, standing on a balcony, watching Peter wave at them.

Peter smiled, and reread both cards, and froze. T'Challa had told them? Peter knew he was freaking out; what he didn't know, is why he was freaking out. It had been, to him at the time, the right thing to do. He didn't need anything, Bucky did, so it had been a simple choice. Peter wanted to go out, to do something but, he knew it'd worry May so, he stayed home. They chatted, watched a movie, and made dinner together. Peter had a smile on his face the entire day; the certificate, the card and even the drawing running through his head. There was a knock on the door as they were finishing dinner, which May went to answer. She returned a few minutes later while Peter was plating up there meals; she was carrying a cling-wrapped plate of cookies. Peter sat down at the small dining table and waited for May to join him before starting to eat.

"Who was that?" He asked.

"Our neighbour, the elderly couple. She had heard about what happened and wanted to make sure you were doing okay. The cookies are a get well gift."

Peter smiled, but weakly. He had been trying to ignore the fact people would know what he had done. Cookies from an old lady were nice; what was school going to be like?

It was not how Peter expected. He stayed home during the weekend, to let May relax, and convince her he was fine; even though he was fine the day after it happened. Monday come and soon, he was at school. Ned and MJ were waiting for him at the gates, both obviously relieved he had turned up; he hadn't spoken to them since he had left school on Thursday.

"Dude, you're alive!" Ned said, when he saw Peter.

"And at school, nerd." MJ said, but smiled at Peter.

The three walked to their lockers; Peter's shoe caught the ground and tripped him. He bumped against a girl in the hall, and quickly apologised before moving on.

"Peter? Why are you at school?" The girl asked, and peter turned to looked at her.

"Because I go to school?"

"Weren't you at the ceremony?"

"Yeah…"

"Parker!" He heard another voice, and was relived to see someone from his chemistry class run up to them. The boy was nice enough; Jeremy, Peter thought his name was.

"Why are you at school? We saw the news man; you were walking to a car with Tony Stark!" The boy said.

"I-"

"Yeah, and the car exploded!" The girl said, looking at the boy Peter definitely knew as Jeremy.

"Dude, I can't believe you threw Tony Stark onto the ground." Jeremy said, full of awe.

"It was either that or get blown up; Peter saved him." Ned said, cutting the two off, and pulling Peter with him. That was Peter's morning; everyone asking him why he was at school, saying they couldn't believe that Peter saved Tony Stark, and telling him that Flash was full of shit and to ignore him.

It was hard, Peter found as he was leaving school through the back gate, when he felt a fist meet his side. He knew it was coming but, couldn't do much about it. He felt another fist, this time meeting his jaw. Peter fell back against the fence, and this time a foot met him stomach; the place where the spear had met previously.

"Get fucked Parker." Flash hissed, before running off, leaving Peter on the ground against the fence. Peter got to his feet, and brush his shirt off.

"Save Tony Stark, be a hero; get beat to shit. Great plan, ticked all the boxes." Peter said to himself, feeling the split in his lip. He could taste the blood already.

"Not the best plan you've ever had." A voice came from nearby, and Peter turned to see Bucky.

"Uh, hi?"

"I'm telling Tony."

"Course."

"I'm telling him you fought back."

Bucky's face was usually hard to read but today, his mouth was turned up in a smirk. He was wearing a long sleeve sweatshirt, to cover his arm.

"You do that." Peter said, glancing above him; branches, good. The back gate was lined with old, thick trees.

"You coming back to the tower soon?"

"Maybe, I need to figure stuff out, you know; intern stuff."

"Right… no more hide and seek?" Bucky smirked, and was suspicious when Peter smirked back.

"Nah, I'm better at tag." Peter said, as he heard footsteps running towards them. Bucky reached out, too slowly, and missed Peter as he pushed off the fence, and jumped to a tree branch above them.

"Little shit! Dammit, I'm no good at tag." He said, laughing, and turned his head to see three boys come through the gate.

"Parker! Where-" Flash looked around, obviously annoyed. 'Where'd he go?"

"You boys lose someone?" Bucky asked, and saw the boys turn to him.

"Nah, fuck off dude. Who are you anyway? Hanging out at a schoo-" Flash was saying, but stopped, he had seen something. The sun had glinted off of the hand of Bucky's metal arm, which wasn't covered totally by the sleeve.

"Oh my god." Another boy said, standing behind Flash.

"Dude, chill. It's not him." Flash said, glaring at his friend, as Bucky pulled his sweatshirt off.

"Great idea Stark; it's too hot anyway. Any of you lot seen Peter?"

"Uhh…"

"Peter. Parker." Bucky said, now completely facing the boys.

"No, sir, we haven-"

"Don't lie to me. I saw.."

Peter was above them, and was able to see Bucky's new arm; it was made of an almost black matte metal, that only glinted in very certain angles of light. Tony had desperately wanted to put the colour red into it, which Peter wasn't sure about. They compromised; each tiny bolt and screw on the arm was topped with a small red star. The red wasn't visible unless you were close; more of an extra detail for Bucky more than anything. Peter dropped down from the branches a little further down the road, behind a metal post, and stepped out into the walkway.

"Parker!" Flash shouted. "He's fucking dead." The boy whispered to himself, not realising that whispering was easily heard by Bucky; who took a step closer to Flash.

"Try again." Bucky hissed at the boys, then turned to face Peter, who grinned back at the metal armed man. Peter stepped back, and turned around the corner he was near, and went back into the branches second before Bucky rounded the corner.

'Come on Parker, I'm really no good at tag. Not your version of it anyway."